34 



Most abundant of all our Salamanders. Common in all 

 shallow brooks where the young may be seen as small 

 brown newts ; the latter also occur in cold springs and 

 have been taken from shallow wells. 



I have never found it at a distance from water. Aquatic 

 as they may seem, the adults will not live in an aquarium as 

 free swimmers, soon drowning if not provided with ex- 

 ternal resting places. 



The eggs are stated by Baird and Cope to be connected 

 by an albuminous thread, and to be protected by being 

 wrapped several times around the body of one of the sexes, 

 which remains concealed in a comparatively dry spot.* I 

 have twice found eggs within three or four days of hatch- 

 ing, in each instance accompanied by an adult Salamander, 

 but in a mass along side. It is probable, therefore, that at 

 a certain period the albuminous thread is broken, and the 

 eggs are gathered into a mass by the watchful parent. The 

 masses are too compact to have been formed by slipping 

 from the body of the adult. 



I think there are two broods annually, as I have found 

 eggs from July to October, and have seen very small larvae 

 as late as November 30. 



A few dates of capture are as follows : 



■Feby. 22. — Under stones and leaves which were in a small 

 trickling brook caused by melting snow, I found several 

 large specimens which were lively and difficult of capture. 

 In a spring near by were larvae | to \\ inches long. Under 

 stones near this spring were over forty adults ; these were 

 comparatively sluggish and evidently in hibernation. 



Oct. 25. — In following a dry bed of a brook I found 

 adults, together with leeches and aquatic beetles, under 

 such stones as rested deeply enough to keep the under sur- 

 face damp or muddy. 



* Cope's Batrachia, p. 197. 



